Tuesday, September 13, 2011

GOP Wins Two House Seats

The Associated Press is reporting Republican Bob Turner has defeated Democrat David Weprin in New York's heavily Democratic ninth Congressional district. With some 70 percent of the votes counted, Turner is ahead 53 percent to Weprin's 47 percent.

Republicans are saying this win reflects a negative vote on various positions taken by the Obama administration, among them lack of support for Israel in this heavily Jewish district. On the other hand, Democrats are pointing to problems Weprin had with his record as a state assemblyman, including support for gay marriage and the Ground Zero mosque. Roll Call says:
Make no mistake about it, the albatross around Weprin’s neck is named Obama.
In Nevada's heavily Republican second district, Republican Mark Amodei handily defeated Democrat Kate Marshall 58% to 37%; she conceded when less than half of the votes were counted. The Reno Gazette Journal reported the win relatively early in the evening. Democrats were not expected to have a realistic chance to win the district.

Viewed as a harbinger of the 2012 voting, these two outcomes cannot be viewed as good news by Team Obama.